Leather working machine and protective device therefor



Oct. '3, 1939. w. RUSSELL 2,174,895

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l w. RUSSELL 2,174,895

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE THEREFOR Get. 3, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1938 Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES LEATHER WORKING MACHINE AND PRO- TECTIVE DEVICE THEREFOR Winn Russell, Woburn, Mass.

Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,770

13 Claims.

This invention relates to leather working machines and particularly to a leather bufling machine, a shaving machine, and the like.

A leather buffing machine, for instance, includes an abrasive surfaced drum and a cooperating feed roll which holds the leather sheet in engagement with the cutting or abrading surface of the drum and also advances the leather sheet in contact with the drum.

In one form of bufl'ing machine and to which form this invention is particularly related the feed roll is moved toward and away from cooperative relation with the abrasive roll by pedal operated mechanism and is held in such coopererative relation by maintaining the pedal depressed. When the foot pressure is removed from the pedal the roll automatically moves away from the drum. The feed roll is also power driven under control of the pedal and is so ar-' ranged that when pressure on the pedal is removed the feed roll is disengaged from the driving means.

A leather shaving machine is in many respects comparable to a bufling machine with the exception that the abrasive drum is replaced by a drum having shaving knives on its periphery.

Both types of machines are the cause of frequent accidents to the operatives thereof in that the fingers of the operative, in the manipulation of the leather sheet on the feed roll, are drawn into the bite between the feed roll and the abrasive or cutting drum. While he may withdraw his hand by releasing the pressure on the control pedal it is a fact that for some reason he rarely thinks of this immediately and as a consequence serious injuries result.

Hence it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the type set forth with means whereby the hand of the operative cannot readily be positioned in the bite between the feed and cutting rolls when the machine is in operation and the feed roll is in operative position close to the cutting roll.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a movable guard positioned above the feed roll and between and in front of the cutting roll and also in front of the bite between the two rolls, the guard being movable downwardly toward the feed roll to a position spaced sufliciently thereabove to permit the leather sheet to pass under the guard and on the roll and yet sufliciently close to prevent the entrance of the fingers of the hand thereunder.

Another object of the invention is the provision' of a guard as above described so associated An additional object of the invention is the provision of a protective guard and associated mechanism therefor adapted as an attachment to existing machines.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of leather working machines and protective devices therefor.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bufflng machine embodying the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the guard-supporting bracket.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Fig. 3.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable guard member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a guard operating bell-crank.

The bumng machine with which the present invention is illustrated and associated comprises upstanding side frames I provided with horizontal upper ledges I2 supporting bearing blocks M- in which the shaft I6 carrying a sand drum I8 is rotatably supported, the bearing blocks having bearing caps thereon. The side frames are recessed under the sand drum and are connected by a plate I 9 shaped to provide a chamber or trough 2| open at the top and sides into which the buffed leather sheet is discharged.

Cooperating with the sand drum and disposed in front thereof is a rubber surfaced feed roll 22 and, in front of the feed roll an associated idler 5 roll 24, both rotatably supported on the upper part of a pivot frame 26 fixed to a shaft 28 journaled in bearings 30 of the side frames in front of the trough. Said pivot frame is provided with a. pair of downwardly and inwardly depending arms 32 which are connected through the screw-threaded shaft 34 of a hand wheel 36 with an upstanding arm 38 of a pedal supporting shaft 40 journaled in the side frames. A pair of arms 42 are fixed to said shaft 40 adjacent the side frames and extend forwardly where they are connected by a pedal board 44. The arms 42 have rearwardly projecting extensions 46 which.

. from the sand drum when the pedal is not held in a depressed position by the pressure of the foot of the operative.

The feed or bed roll 22 is driven by driving chains or the equivalent 48 from a counter-shaft upper or. retracted position, in which position itmoves by the weight of the associated parts, the feed roll frame 26 is in a forward position relatively remote from the sand drum l6 and the clutch is disengaged so that the roll is stationary. When the pedal is depressed it is caused to move the feed roll toward the drum and effects the engagement of the clutch and the rotation of the roll.

The hand wheel 36 and its screw connection between the arms 32 and 38 provide means whereby the clearance between the feed roll and the drum, in the operating position of the feed roll, is determined whereby to determine the thickness of the buffed leather.

In the use of this machine, a leather sheet A hasthe leading end thereof fed into the space between the roll and the drum and is draped upon and across both the feed roll 22 and the idler roll 24. The frictional engagement between the feed roll and the leather sheet is sufficient to advance the sheet in cutting engagement with the drum at the peripheral speed of the roll. During the advance of the sheet the operative smooths out the sheet on the rolls to keep it free from wrinkles and to turn down upwardly projecting edge parts of the skin.

In the smoothing out process the fingers of the operative are, of course, close to the bite of the feed roll and the sand drum and the hands of the operative frequently get pinched between the drum and roll and cut by the drum.

In accordance with the present invention protective mechanism is provided to prevent the fingers of the operative from coming close to the bite between the feed roll and drum and from being drawn into the bite between the roll and drum and cut by the drum.

In accordance with the present invention the protective mechanism includes a vertical guard plate 54 which is located above the feed roll and close in front of the cutting drum preferably rearwardly of the vertical axial plane of the feed roll so that there is ample space on the rolls in front of the guard plate for manipulating the sheet. The guard plate preferably has a length substantially coextensive with the length of the feed roll and a suitable height so that there is no temptation on the part of the operative to insert his hand in back of the plate. Said plate 54 at each end is fixed to the front face of a slide block 56 having a pair of vertical rails 58 which slide in cooperating grooves 60 of a vertical standard 62 integral with and forming a part of a bracket 64. Said bracket at its lower part is provided with outwardly projecting feet 66 which are secured conveniently to the upper face of the bearing cap 20 by bolts 68. The standard 82 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 10 and the block 56 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 12 which projects outwardly of the standard 62 through the slot 10 and is located in the longitudinally elongated slot I4 of the generally horizontal arm 16 of a bell crank lever pivoted on a stud l8 fixed to the upper part of the bracket. The bell crank lever is provided with a generally vertically extended arm which has a rearwardly extended rod 82 carrying a weight 84 which is slidable lengthwise of the rod and is sufiiciently heavy to raise the guard plate and connected parts when pressure on the pedal is released. The above described mechanism is duplicated at each side of the machine.

The arm 80 of the bell crank lever is connected with one end of a flexible cable 86 which passes over a sheave 88 journalled in the standard 62 of the bracket and thence passes over idler sheaves 90 journalled on the side frames of the machine to a point below the side openings of the sheet receiving trough 2| and thence under the trough to a bell crank lever pivoted on a stud 92 of the associated side plate. The cable is connected with the vertical arm 96 of the bell crank lever and the horizontal arm 98 thereof has a lateral projection I00 operating in the horizontally elongated slot I02 of a pedal part. The arrangement is such that when the pedal 44 is in its upper position the guard plate or barrier 54 is in elevated position above the feed roll so that work can be inserted between the plate and the roll. When the treadle is depressed the guard plate is pulled downwardly by the cables into a position where it is so close above the work on the roll that while it permits the work to pass freely thereunder it prevents the fingers of the hand from gaining access to the bite between the feed roll and drum. A turn buckle I04 or the equivalent is inserted in between parts of each cable for the purpose of adjusting the amount of clearance between the guard plate and the work on the roll. The arrangement of the parts is such that the guard plate is approximately in its lowermost position before the clutch 52 is engaged to start the rotation of the roll.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the type comprising a cutting drum, a feed roll in front of the drum, a sup port for the feed roll movable toward and away from said drum, means constantly acting on said support for moving said support and roll away from said drum, and means including a pedal for holding said roll adjacent said drum, the combination therewith of a barrier located in front of said drum and above said roll, supporting mechanism for said barrier, and operating means for said barrier associated with said pedal and movable with said pedal to move said barrier from an elevated position remote from said roll into a protective position close above said roll.

2. In a machine of the type comprising a cutting drum, a feed roll in front of said drum, a support for the feed roll movable toward and away from said drum, means constantly acting on said support for moving said support and roll away from said drum, and means including a pedal for holding said roll adjacent said drum, the combination therewith of a barrier member disposed in front of said drum above said roll and approximately co-extensive with the length of said roll, guide means for said member in which said member is vertically movable above said roll, operating means for raising and lowering said means operated by said pedal, and adjusting means for regulating the clearance between said barrier member and roll.

3. In a leather working machine comprising a rotatable cutting drum, a driven feed roll disposed in front of said drum, supporting means for said roll movable with said roll .toward and away from said drum, and means including a pedal for operating said supporting means, said roll constituting a support over which a leather sheet is draped and by which it is fed into the bite between said roll and drum, the combination therewith of a barrier member disposed in front of said drum and above said roll and movable from a protective position close above said roll to an elevated position thereabove, operating means for said barrier member operated by said pedal to position said barrier member close above said roll when said roll is close to said drum and to position said barrier member away from said roll when said roll is away from said drum, and means for adjusting the clearance between said barrier member and roll.

4. In a leather working machine, a rotatable cutting drum, a rotatable leather supporting and feeding roll disposed in front of said drum, supporting means for said roll movable toward and away from said drum with said roll, and a pedal for operating said supporting means, the combination therewith of a guard member disposed in front of said drum above said roll, guide means for supporting said guard member for vertical movement toward and away from said roll, gravity operated means associated with said guard member urging said guard member constantly for movement into an elevated position remote from said roll, and pedal operated means for moving said guard member downwardly into a position close to said roll.

5. In a leather working machine, side frame members, a cutting drum disposed between and having a bearing on said frame members, apivoted roll support disposed in front of said drum and movable toward and away therefrom, a work supporting feed roll journalled' on said support, means including a pedal for moving said support and said roll toward and away from said drum, bracket members carried by said side frames upstanding above said drum, a guard member extended between said bracket members in front of said drum and above said roll and having a vertically slidable connection with said bracket members, raising and lowering means for said guard member carried by said brackets, and operating means for-said raising and lowering means connected with said pedal.

6. In a leather working machine as in claim 5, said guard member operating means including levers pivoted to said brackets having operative connections with said guard member, and a weight carried by at least one of said levers operative in a direction to raise said guard member when pressure on the pedal is removed.

7. In a leather working machine, the combination of a frame having side members, bearing blocks on said side members having bearing caps, a cutting drum rotatable in said bearing members, a pivoted roll support located in front of said drum, work supporting and feed rolls journalled in said support and movable therewith, means including a pedal for moving said support and rolls toward and away from said drum, brackets fixed to said bearing caps and upstanding thereabove, a guide member vertically slidable in said brackets in front of said drum and above said feed roll, levers pivoted to said brackets having an operative connection with said guard member for raising and lowering it, and operating means for said levers having an operating connection with said pedal.

8. In a leather working machine, the combination of a frame having a trough, a rotatable cutting drum and a cooperating feed roll located above the trough, said feed roll being disposed in front of said drum, a support for said feed roll movable toward and away from said drum with said roll, and means including a pedal for moving said support and roll toward and away from said drum, the combination therewith of supporting brackets upstanding above said drum. a guard member movable in said brackets in front of said drum and above said roll, and operating means for said guardmember including cables extending downwardly from said brackets rearwardly of and forwardly under said trough and having operative connections with said pedal.

9. In a leather working machine, the combination of a frame having a trough, a rotatable cutting drum and a cooperating feed roll located above the trough, said feed roll being disposed in front of said drum, a support for said feed roll movable toward and away from said drum with said roll, and means including a pedal for moving said support and roll toward and away from said drum, the combination therewith of supporting brackets upstanding above said drum, a guard member movable in said brackets in front of said drum and above said roll, and operating means for said guard member including cables extending downwardly from said brackets rearwardly of and forwardly under said trough and having operative connections with said pedal, said cables having turn buckles therein for adjusting the clearance between said guard member and roll in the lowered position of said guard member.

10. In a leather working machine comprising a supporting frame having bearing blocks and bearing caps thereon, a cutting drum journalled in said bearing blocks, a movable roll support disposed in front of said drum, a work supporting feed roll journalled in said support, and means including a pedal for moving said support and roll toward and away from said drum, the combination therewith of protective means comprising brackets secured to said bearing caps and upstanding thereabove, said brackets having upstanding standards, a guard member vertically movable in said standards in front of said drum and above said roll, bell crank levers pivoted on said brackets having arms provided with operative connections with said guard member and upstanding weighted arms which over-balance the weight of said guard member and then to maintain it in an elevated position remote from said roll, and operating means for said guard member comprising cables connected with said upstanding arms, sheaves Joumalled on said standards over which said cables are passed and other guide sheaves above which said cables are passed, said cables having operative connections with said pedal by which depression of said pedal effects the lowering of said guard member.

11. In a leather working machine comprising a frame, a cutting drum journalled in said frame, a pivoted support located in front of said drum and arranged for movement toward and away from said drum, a driven feed roll carried by said support in confronting relation with said drum and movable toward and away from said drum with said support, means including a pedal for holding said support and roll adjacent said drum, a guard member disposed in front of said drum a guard member disposed in front of said drum above said roll and movable in a generally vertical direction toward and away from said roll, and pedal operated means for moving said guard member, said guard member comprising a vertical plate of substantial height which is when adjacent said roll located rearwardly of the vertical axial plane of the roll, and means for positioning the lower edge of said roll close above the surface of said roll but spaced thereabove sufliciently to allow a leather sheet to pass thereunder but not the fingers of an operative.

13. In a leather working machine, the com,- bination of a cutting drum, a feed roll, a pedal, pedal operated means for moving said roll toward and away from said drum, power driving means for said roll, a clutch controlling said driving means, a guard member positioned for movement above and toward and away from said roll in front of said drum, and pedal-controlled operating means for said guard member arranged to position said guard member adjacent said roll prior to the positioning of said roll adjacent said drum.

' WINN RUSSELL. 

